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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Free agent working again Dalvin Cook dinner is planning to signal a one-year deal value as much as $8.6 million with the New York Jets, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday night time.

Cook dinner, who turned 28 final week, was launched June 8 after 4 straight Professional Bowl seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

The transfer provides Aaron Rodgers one other confirmed playmaker and comes after the veteran quarterback volunteered to take a $35 million pay reduce, creating monetary flexibility to signal big-ticket gamers akin to Cook dinner. The veteran working again visited the Jets final month, spending virtually a full day at their facility.

With No. 1 again Breece Corridor getting back from ACL surgical procedure, the Jets wished to bolster their backfield with an achieved runner. They maintained regular curiosity in Cook dinner, with coach Robert Saleh saying just lately, “Clearly, you do not wish to say no to a terrific participant.”

The Jets have stated they’re optimistic about Corridor’s availability for Week 1, however he is nonetheless on the PUP record and time is working out. Saleh professed his religion in backups Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter, however they each averaged solely 3.5 yards per rush final season, rating 58th and 59th amongst 59 gamers with not less than 80 makes an attempt, respectively. The Jets even have rookie Israel Abanikanda, a fifth-round choose from Pitt.

Cook dinner continues to be not less than per week away from having the ability to observe as he recovers from shoulder surgical procedure he underwent in February, a supply informed Schefter. His arrival to New York may even be delayed as he is anticipating to develop into a first-time father quickly.

Cook dinner is one other high-profile asset for the Jets, who revamped their historically moribund offense by buying and selling for Rodgers, signing broad receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman and altering coordinators.

In Cook dinner they get some of the prolific runners within the league. Since 2019, he has averaged 111 scrimmage yards per sport, second solely to the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry (126). Cook dinner has a one-cut model that ought to match properly within the Jets’ exterior zone working scheme. The Jets, who have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2015, get a again with 4 straight 1,000-yard seasons.

“He is been a dynamic ball service for a very long time,” Saleh stated.

However he arrives with some query marks. Having battled continual shoulder accidents since faculty, Cook dinner underwent surgical procedure Feb. 14, and he is coming off his least environment friendly season.

Regardless of a separated shoulder final season, he performed each sport. Whereas Cook dinner rushed for 1,173 yards in 2022, his per-carry common was a career-low 4.4. He led the NFL with 62 carries for a loss or no acquire and solely 34.5% of his carries gained a optimistic complete of yards over expectation, per Subsequent Gen Stats, the second-lowest fee amongst working backs with not less than 200 carries in 2022.

In 2021, a former girlfriend filed a lawsuit in opposition to him, alleging bodily and emotional abuse. He then filed a defamation swimsuit in opposition to her. Each circumstances are pending. The Star-Tribune reported final month that he supplied her $1 million to clear him of wrongdoing regardless of her beforehand sworn abuse allegations in opposition to him.

Saleh, commenting on his sit-down with Cook dinner, referred to as him “an excellent younger man. He has a plan, he is aware of precisely what he needs and it was a extremely good dialogue.”